Safety Switches Residual Current Devices

A RCD is a device designed to quickly disconnect current to protect you and your family from electrocution. Because of this it is a legal requirement to have a minimum of two RCD's protecting all power and lighting circuits fitted.
For more information on the legal requirements of RCD's Click Here.

If your child should stick a fork or finger into a power point or light socket the RCD will direct a loss of current flow in the circuit and will shut down (trip) the circuit in less than 0.03 seconds, hopefull avoiding serious injury or death.

There could also be a number of reasons a RCD can trip and you find yourself in the dark, without power or both. You should take this as a good thing as it is the RCD telling you that there is a fault. For example if you plug in an appliance such as a kettle or a toaster and the RCD trips this tells you that there is something wrong with the appliance, it may be something minor but if you were to continue to use the apppliance it could lead to serious injury or electrocution.

If you turn on a light and you find that all your lights are not working the RCD has detected a fault in your light fitting or switch. Turn off the light switch that tripped your RCD, go reset the RCD and give us a call on 0412 103 710 to come out and assess the problem.

Because humans are on average approximately 65% water, RCD' cannot tell the difference between people and water. Therefore if it has rained and some water has made its way behind a power point or in a light fitting, the RCD will recognise this as a possible electrocution and will trip. In this case give as a call for advise or repairs.